pt.euronews.com
Increased GPS Interference in Eastern Europe Raises Concerns
The European Union is experiencing a surge in GPS interference incidents in Eastern Europe, particularly near critical infrastructure and airports, prompting concerns about Russian involvement and leading to calls for improved countermeasures.
- What measures are being taken to address the growing threat of GPS interference in the region?
- The EU is exploring solutions such as deploying more low-orbit satellites for better interference detection. NATO is also working to counter Russian interference in civilian flights. Thirteen EU member states have requested the Commission to develop alternative systems and deploy interference-resistant GNSS services.
- What are the suspected sources and methods behind these GPS interference incidents, and what are their implications?
- Authorities suspect Russia and Belarus are behind the interference, using jamming (creating radio noise) and spoofing (injecting false signals) techniques. These acts of hybrid warfare are intended to harass and intimidate neighboring countries, impacting navigation for various vehicles, from ambulances to airplanes.
- What is the extent and impact of the recent surge in GPS interference incidents affecting Eastern European airspace?
- Since February 2022, there's been a significant increase in GNSS jamming and GPS spoofing across Eastern Europe, affecting aircraft and ships. In June 2025 alone, Lithuania recorded over 1000 interference cases—a 22-fold increase from June 2024. Estonia reported GPS interference affecting 85% of flights, and Poland recorded 2732 cases in January 2025.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a clear narrative of increasing GPS interference incidents in Eastern Europe, primarily attributed to Russia and Belarus. The framing emphasizes the severity and frequency of these incidents, highlighting the impact on civilian aircraft and critical infrastructure. The inclusion of specific examples, such as the incidents involving von der Leyen's and Shapps' planes, and the high number of cases in Lithuania and Estonia, strengthens this narrative. However, the article could benefit from including counter-narratives or alternative explanations for the interference, if any exist, to present a more balanced perspective.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral, employing factual reporting and quotes from experts. However, terms such as "assadiar e intimidar" (harass and intimidate) when describing Russia's actions carry a negative connotation. While these terms reflect the opinions of the experts quoted, alternative wording like "disrupt" or "interfere with" could offer a more neutral description of the actions. The repeated association of GPS interference with Russia and Belarus might subtly influence the reader to assume guilt without definitive proof, even if experts suspect Russian involvement.
Bias by Omission
The article omits potential alternative explanations for the GPS interference. While experts suspect Russia and Belarus, the article doesn't explore other possible sources or contributing factors. Additionally, the long-term consequences of these interferences beyond immediate disruption to air and sea travel are not addressed. Considering the limited space, these omissions are understandable, but acknowledging these limitations would enhance the article's objectivity.
False Dichotomy
The article doesn't present a false dichotomy, but it could benefit from including a more nuanced perspective on the effectiveness of countermeasures and alternative navigation systems. While the article mentions that pilots are trained for such scenarios and that alternative systems exist, it doesn't delve into the limitations or potential vulnerabilities of these alternatives.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the disruption of GPS systems, a form of hybrid warfare, causing safety concerns for aviation and navigation, undermining regional stability and potentially escalating tensions between nations. This directly impacts SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by threatening peace and security, hindering justice mechanisms through technological disruption, and weakening institutional capacity to ensure safety and security.